Aji, co-founder of Leeds Teaching Hospitals’ Globally Trained Nurses Forum, has been named winner of the trust’s Leadership in Practice Award 2026 — recognition, she says, of a journey that began thousands of miles away in Kerala, India.
Aji qualified as a nurse and midwife in Kerala, before crossing into higher education and spending over nine years as an Associate Professor, mentoring nursing students. She arrived at Leeds Hospitals in 2020; her first UK post was as a staff nurse based on the Neuro Stroke Unit, before she later moved into an education practitioner role, helping fellow internationally educated nurses work towards Nursing and Midwifery Council registration via the Leeds Competence Centre.
She now works as a Bereavement Specialist Nurse and BME Champion Lead, alongside co-chairing the Globally Trained Nurses Forum.
A wide grounding
Back in Kerala, her training spanned adult nursing, midwifery, child health and mental health, giving her a wide grounding before her career even properly began — a foundation, combined with her years of teaching, that she says has shaped how she approaches care, leadership and education ever since. She believes globally trained nurses bring far more than clinical skill to the NHS: distinct viewpoints, cultural insight, resourcefulness and inventive problem-solving.
“Every internationally educated nurse brings a unique story, and together those experiences help make the NHS stronger,” she said.
Among her proudest achievements, Aji points to practical initiatives she’s helped establish at the trust — including its Staff Grief Cafés, a Managers’ Bereavement Toolkit for supporting bereaved staff, and bereavement listening and signposting services for families — alongside her ongoing work co-chairing the Globally Trained Nurses Forum, helping other internationally educated nurses feel welcomed and supported as they build their careers.
She was previously recognised with the trust’s Outstanding Shared Decision-Making Leader Award in 2025.
Recognising a journey
On this year’s award, she said: “Receiving the Leadership in Practice Award 2026 by Globally Trained Nurses Forum is incredibly special because it recognises a journey that began thousands of miles away in Kerala and has continued to grow at here at the Trust. It reminds me that leadership isn’t about position – it’s about creating opportunities, supporting others and making a lasting difference.
“This award belongs not only to me but also to the colleagues, mentors and leaders who believed in me, encouraged and gave me opportunities to grow. I hope it inspires other internationally educated nurses to believe that their ideas, experiences and leadership can have a real impact.”
Her advice to other internationally educated nurses is direct: “Never underestimate what you bring with you. Your experiences, skills and ideas are valuable. Be curious, get involved, volunteer for opportunities and don’t be afraid to lead. Sometimes the biggest difference you make starts with one small idea and the courage to act on it.”
